Learn French: Le chef demande si cette compétence est un atout. - The boss asks if this skill is an asset.

Le chef demande si cette compétence est un atout.

The boss asks if this skill is an asset.

Breakdown of Le chef demande si cette compétence est un atout.

the boss / the manager

Questions & Answers about Le chef demande si cette compétence est un atout.

If I wanted to change this back to a direct quote, what would the boss's original question look like?

He would ask a yes/no question, like Cette compétence est-elle un atout ? or Est-ce que cette compétence est un atout ? When reporting a yes/no question, we drop the question structure and connect the two halves of the sentence with si (if or whether).

Why doesn't the tense of est change in the reported question?

Because the introductory reporting verb (demande) is in the present tense. If it were in the past (like a demandé), the reported verb would shift to the imperfect (était). With a present reporting verb, the tense stays exactly as it was originally spoken.

Can si mean 'whether' as well as 'if' in this sentence?

Yes! In English, we can say 'asks if' or 'asks whether'. In French, si covers both meanings when introducing an indirect yes/no question like this one.

Does un atout only mean 'an asset' for a job?

In professional contexts, un atout means 'an asset' or 'a major advantage'. However, its literal meaning is a 'trump card' in card games, which makes it a very colorful way to describe a valuable skill!